Cargo light upgrade

[timachone]

Hi,

is this an easy upgrade to add a cargo light in its original position? Has anybody done this? Or is this a no-o to a otherwise relatively original car?

Thanks

Tim

[Ranchero50]

It's pretty simple to do and you can convert the housing and run a switchback LED so you have a center high mounted stop lamp too. It's not real effective during the daylight but does a good job at night. I wrote up how I did it in my build thread.

[BayStYAt]

It's pretty simple to do and you can convert the housing and run a switchback LED so you have a center high mounted stop lamp too. It's not real effective during the daylight but does a good job at night. I wrote up how I did it in my build thread.

Ranch,

I would like to see the build thread. Please link it

[Ranchero50]

The light upgrade is somewhere around 2016.

http://fordification.com/forum/viewtopi ... 22&t=48572

[timachone]

Thanks for the reply

There are complete new cargo light assemblies out there, the wiring too and the switches are on ebay very often. So that would be not the problem.

But cutting a big hole in the truck would so I am hesitating a bit about that...

[71cc]

There is a template posted somewhere. Be aware the cutout is not symmetrical. I did mine. Just mark it out. Us a new hole saw 1_1\4" I think ? And then use a cutoff wheel to cut the straight section between. It is a 30 minute job.

[timachone]

Sounds good - had only found the thread from Ranchero50

Further along...

I used the drawing in the other thread (I'll link it if I remember) and drileld the holes after pin punching them. I'm not real impressed with the gasket and fit. Mine light didn't want to aim level.


Screws. I didn't get the correct screws for the light when I won it off eBay so I turned a couple spare headlight pan head screws down so they looked like they belonged.


Modified the original sock to accept a 1157 bulb. I'm still going to get the color switching LED for the cargo light. Currently the wiring is dressed in and waiting to be connected once I know which lead lights which color.

But the backside of the lights are looking a bit different - seems there is an elongated hole necessary...

Had found no other template - perhaps someone could chime in with it...

Thanks,

Tim

[Ranchero50]

Tim, in this picture, the holes were cut with a hole saw. The horizontal lines are the bottom and top are the guide for where to cut the "oval" out. The vertical red line is the center line of the cab. The hole is offset towards the passenger side a bit for the lamp pocket.

[timachone]

Tim, in this picture, the holes were cut with a hole saw. The horizontal lines are the bottom and top are the guide for where to cut the "oval" out. The vertical red line is the center line of the cab. The hole is offset towards the passenger side a bit for the lamp pocket.

Ok, that makes sense

Thank you for clarify!

Will do this later in the year, perhaps with a LED to gain more light to the back...

[Ranchero50]

The LED is more to keep from being driven into when it's dark out. Our trucks have very small tail lamps compared to today's stuff. The center high mount really does a good job at night. During the day if they hit you well...

[timachone]

The LED is more to keep from being driven into when it's dark out. Our trucks have very small tail lamps compared to today's stuff. The center high mount really does a good job at night. During the day if they hit you well...

That sounds you have had some bad experience with it...

I have to admit that the taillamps are very small!